Magnetically attached engine heater



July 13, 1965 5. J. PAPP 3,

' MAGNETICALLY ATTACHED ENGINE HEATER Filed June 1a, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Stephen J Papp 1N VENTOR.

BY na m July 13, 1965 5. J. PAPP 3,194,944

MAGNETIGALLY ATTACHED ENGINE HEATER Filed June 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

, 24 Fig. 4

Stephen J Papp INVENTOR.

United States Patent i 3 194 944 MAGNETECALLY AriAdnsn ENGINE HEATER Stephen J. Papp, 5655 W. 2nd Ave, Denver 26, Cole. Filed June 18, 1963, Ser. No. 288,833 Claims. (Cl. 219-405 The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electrical engine warmers, and is specifically concerned with an engine warmer incorporating magnetic means for eiiecting the mounting of the warmer at any desired position upon the engine.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a means for quickly and easily warming an engine so as to ensure the desired flow of lubricant thus encouraging safe and easy starts even in the coldest weather.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also an object of the instant invention to provide an engine warmer which can be conveniently and easily mounted on any portion of the engine accessible to the user of the device.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an engine warmer which is completely safe in operation, the heating element being completely enclosed.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a compact device incorporating a handle so as to facilitate the handling and mounting thereof.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a device which is mountable upon an engine by a pair of magnetic means, these means incorporating adjustable pole plates so as to conform these magnetic means to any surface irregularities on that portion of the engine to which the device is to be secured.

Additionally, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an engine warmer wherein the heater portion thereof will be in direct engagement with the engine surface.

In achieving these objects, it is contemplated that the engine warmer of the instant invention consist basically of a flat circular heater means having an elongated loosely wound relatively stiif coil spring secured thereto and located in a parallel plane spaced therefrom so as to function as a handle means, this elongated handle means projecting beyond the heater means at opposite sides thereof with the projecting ends having magnet means secured thereto and projecting to approximately the outer face of the heater means. As such, it will be appreciated that, in conforming the magnet means to the engine surface, a slight flexing of the handle means is possible. In addition, each of the magnet means is to include, within itself, adjustable means consisting of one or more pole plates capable of being extended or retracted as might be deemed necessary.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the magnetic engine warmer of the instant invention mounted in position upon an engine;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged end view of the engine warmer;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the engine warmer;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the engine warmer;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the various components of one of the magnet means;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of an assembled magnet means; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken 3,194,944 Patented July 13, 1965 substantially on a plane passing along line 77 in FIGURE 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, it will be noted that reference numeral 10 has been used to generally designate the magnetic engine warmer comprising the instant invention. attachable to any portion of an engine 12, such as for example the head, block, or bottom of the oil pan, consists basically of a heater means 14, an elongated slightly flexible handle 16, and a pair of magnetic means or members 18 arranged in a unique manner so as to form a compact easily handled unit allowing rapid and easy attachment to any portion of an engine which can be physically reached.

The heater means. 14 comprises a flat ring heater element completely enclosed within a suitable metal alloy protective sheathing 20 except for a pair of insulated apertures, referred to generally by reference numeral 22, through which the conductor cable 24 engages the terminals of the heating element.

The handle 16 consists of an elongated loosely wound slightly flexible coil spring orientated in a spaced parallel plane to the upper or inner face of the heater means 14, the spacing between the handle means 16 and the heater means 14 being sufficient so as to allow for a grasping of the handle means 16 without engaging the heater means 14. The handle 16 is maintained in a fixed position relative to the heater means by a pair of thin rigid rods 26 welded at diametrically opposed peripheral points on the heater means and extending upward therefrom for welded engagement with a convenient portion of the coils located thereabove. The use of thin rods is deemed particularly important in that such greatly reduces the tendency for any heat transfer to occur therethrough, a heat retarding coating of silicone aluminum paint also being provided on the inner or top side of the heater means sheathing 20.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the handle 16 projects laterally beyond the heater means at diametrically opposed points and terminates, at the outer end of each projecting portion with a downwardly extending rod-like extension 28 to which the magnet means 18 is rigidly afiixed. This securing of the magnet means 18 directly to the loosely wound coil spring handle 16 enables a utilization of the flexibility of the coil spring handle 16 in accommodating the magnet means to the various surface irregularities which might be encountered in mounting the device 10 upon an engine 12.

Each of the magnet means 18 consists basically of a first pole plate 30, of any suitable metal such as for example mild steel, having an internally threaded aperture 32 therethrough, a permanent magnet 34 having a trans verse bore 36 therethrough, a second pole plate 38 having a vertically elongated slot 40 extending transversely therethrough, a non-magnetic collar 42 having a transverse bore 44 therethrough and positionable about and maintaining the alinement of the plates 30 and 38 and the magnet 34, and a non-magnetic elongated bolt 46 extending through the collar aperture 44, plate slot 40, magnet bore 36 and plate aperture 32, the externally threaded end of the bolt 46 being threaded within the internally threaded aperture 32 and locked in position by a suitable locknut 48. In this assembled relationship the lower edge of the permanent magnet 34 is to be positioned slightly above the lower edge of the plate 30 and the lower edge of the plate 38 in its uppermost position, this lower edge of the plate 38 thus aligning with the lower edge of the plate 30. In this manner the pole plates 39 and 38 form suitable paths for the flux lines from the magnet and also act so as to protect the magnet 34 from continuous impact with the engine surface which might tend to cause damage to the magnet 34. As will be This device 10, readily 3 appreciated, the elongated slot 4% Within the pole plate 3% enables this plate to automatically adjust to various surface irregularities on the engine thus ensuring a positive engagement productive of a maximum degree of magnetic attraction.

With reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, it will be noted that a third pole plate 50 has been provided, this pole plate being orientated between the plate 30 and the magnet 34 and being of the same size as the plate 58, also including a slot 52 similar to the slot 49 in order that this plate might also be vertically slidable and adjustable in the same manner as plate 33. The provision of such an additional plate is contemplated so as to increase the flux path thus providing for a greater magnetic attraction as might be desired in some instances.

As stated supra, the collar 42 and bolt 46 are of nonmagnetic material, this being deemed desirable to prevent a flow of the magnetic flux therethrough rather than through the metal of the engine 12. Likewise, in addition to allowing for a controlled movement of the components, the use of non-magnetic material allows for a ready dismantling of the magnet means 18 for purposes of cleaning grease and various metal particles therefrom such as might accumulate over extended periods of use.

With reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be noted that the conductor cable 24 extends from the heater means 14 longitudinally into one end of the coil spring handle 16 to an intermediate point where it extends through the coils to the exterior of the handle 16, along the exterior of the handle 16 to a point just short of the opposite end of the handle and then through the coils again and longitudinally out this second end of the handle 16. In this manner, it will be appreciated that an effective strain relief for the end of the cable 24 is provided, this ensuring that the cable 24 cannot he accidentally pulled from the heater element terminals.

From the foregoing, it should now be appreciated that a highly novel engine warmer has been defined, this engine Warmer being extremely compact and easy to both mount and remove on any portion of an engine. in regard to this mounting of the device, it will also be appreciated that, by utilizing a pair of magnet means, one at each side of the device, an extremely rigid mount- The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A magnetic warming unit comprising a generally flat heater means having one face thereof positionable against an engine surface, a handle in the form of an elon ated loosely wound slightly flexible coil spring extending transversely across the heater means and beyond the opposite sides thereof, said coil spring being in a plane spaced above the heater means, means fixing the heater means to the coil spring inwardly of the ends thereof extending beyond the heater means, and magnet means secured to each end or" the coil spring and projecting therefrom, in outwardly spaced relation to the adjoining side of the heater means, into substantially the plane of said one face of the flat heater for engagement with the engine surface, the slightly flexible coil spring enabling an accommodation of the magnet means to surface irregularities on the engine.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each magnet means consists of a first flat plate rigid with one end of the coil spring, a second plate parallel to the first plate, a magnet sandwiched between said plates, bolt means locking the magnet and second plate to the first plate, and collar means engaged about the two plates and the magnet for preventing lateral movement of the plates and magnet relative to each other, said second plate being capable of limited longitudinal movement.

3. The device of claim 2 including a third plate parallel to said first plate and secured between said first plate and said magnet for adjustment in a plane parallel to said first plate.

ing of the device is effected eliminating any possibility of the device being accidentally disengaged. Likewise, by the incorporation of various adjustable features such as a slightly flexible handle mounting the magnet means directly and a particular magnet means incorporating movable pole plates, a device particularly adapted to the normally uneven surfaces which are encountered on an engine has been defined. Another significant feature of the device of the instant invention as described in detail supra is the various safety factors including a completely enclosed heating element and the utilization of a coil spring handle in a manner so as to form a tension relief for the electrical cable, these features being particularly desirable in View of the possibility of the presence of moisture from, for example, melting snow or ice during the use of the device. Incidentally, while not stressed supra, it is also considered of prime significance that the various adjustable features incorporated both in the magnet means and in the handle enable, in most situations, the positioning of the lower or outer face of the heater means directly against that portion of the engine involved with no undesirable air gap or insulating space therebetween.

4. The device of claim 1 including a power conductor extending from the heater means for engagement with a power source, an intermediate portion of said conductor being engaged with said coil spring whereby said coil spring acts as a tension relief.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said conductor extends from the heater means longitudinally through a first portion of the interior of the coil spring, laterally out of the spring, along the exterior of the spring, laterally into the spring, and longitudinally through a second portion of the interior of the spring.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,424,052 7/22 Weibel l6-120 1,646,845 10/27 Wright 2l9205 X 2,373,248 4/45 Lucia 219245 2,507,213 5/50 McConnell 2l9205 2,658,983 11/53 Talbot 339-58 2,698,374 12/54 Carpenter 219205 2,702,335 2/55 Cordis 2l9205 X 2,875,324 2/59 Camp et al 248-206 X FOREIGN PATENTS 569,805 6/45 Great Britain.

RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner. ANTHONY BARTIS, MAX L. LEVY, Examiners. 

1. A MAGNETIC WARMING UNIT COMPRISING A GENERALLY FLAT HEATER MEANS HAVING ONE FACE THEREOF POSITIONABLE AGAINST AN ENGINE SURFACE, A HANDLE IN THE FORM OF AN ELONGATED LOOSELY WOUND SLIGHTLY FLEXIBLE COIL SPRING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE HEATER MEANS AND BEYOND THE OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, SAID COIL SPRING BEING IN A PLANE SPACED ABOVE THE HEATER MEANS, MEANS FIXING THE HEATER MEANS TO THE COIL SPRING INWARDLY OF THE ENDS THEREOF EXTENDING BEYOND THE HEATER MEANS, AND MAGNET MEANS SECURED TO EACH END OF THE COIL SPRING AND PROJECTING THEREFROM, IN OUTWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO THE ADJOINING SIDE OF THE HEATER MEANS, INTO SUBSTANTIALLY THE PLANE OF SAID ONE FACE OF THE FLAT HEATER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ENGINE SURFACE, THE SLIGHTLY FLEXIBLE COIL SPRING ENABLING AN ACCOMMODATION OF THE MAGNET MEANS TO SURFACE IRREGULARITIES ON THE ENGINE. 